Halifax Convention Centre nominated for multiple MPI Atlantic Awards

October 16, 2026

The MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter Awards have announced the nominees for 2026. The MPI Awards recognize, celebrate, and elevate excellence within the meetings, conventions, and events industry across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the broader Atlantic region. This year, the Halifax Convention Centre's Bellies Before Bins program is a finalist for the Waves of Change Award; the Atlantic Menopause Show is a finalist for Event of the Year; and the Halifax Convention Centre's Arzoo Rahimi and Jackie Guo have both been nominated for the Rising Star Award.

Waves of Change Award: Bellies Before Bins
The Waves of Change Award honours individuals, organizations, or initiatives that demonstrate outstanding leadership in sustainability and positive transformation in the meetings and events industry. Launched in 2025, Bellies Before Bins is the Halifax Convention Centre’s food sustainability program – a standard, consistent approach to making sure the food we purchase, prepare, and serve goes into someone’s belly, instead of a bin. Since launching, the Halifax Convention Centre has donated more than 10,000 meals to non-profit organizations, community pantries, and shelters across HRM. Bellies Before Bins reduces our food waste, feeds more people, and shows leadership in sustainability. As part of our Local Program, we source from over 100 local food and beverage producers. By ensuring this food never goes to waste, our Bellies Before Bins program is an operationalized way that the Halifax Convention Centre can meaningfully support and impact our community.

Event of the Year: The Atlantic Menopause Show
Hosted at the Halifax Convention Centre on October 17, 2025, The Atlantic Menopause Show was the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, the first-ever conference and expo dedicated to menopause and women’s midlife health. Presented by IWK Women's Health, and with over 700 guests in attendance, the Atlantic Menopause Show highlighted the significant gaps in knowledge, care, and access for those in menopause transition. The event featured expert speakers, educators, exhibitors, and connection among women, health care professionals, researchers and advocates, and raised awareness, normalized conversations, and positioned Halifax as a site of women's health innovation. The Atlantic Menopause Show was organized by a multidisciplinary committee including Dr. Maria Migas and Dr. Shawna O’Hearn, Liz Rigney, Nicole Langille, and the Halifax Convention Centre's Dawn Baldwin. We were proud to sponsor and host this important event in women's health.

Rising Star Award: Arzoo Rahimi and Jackie Guo
The Halifax Convention Centre is proud to celebrate MPI Atlantic's Rising Star nominees: Arzoo Rahimi and Jackie Guo. The Rising Star Award celebrates an emerging professional in the meetings and events industry who demonstrates early-career promise, energy, and dedication. Both on the Halifax Convention Centre's Sales team, Arzoo and Jackie are shaping the future of the events and meetings industry in the region.

This year's nominees join an impressive list of events and individuals who demonstrate excellence in the Atlantic region. These are not the first MPI nominations for the Halifax Convention Centre. In 2025, our Director of Facilities & Operations Jenn Cotterill was nominated for Member of the Year; the 2024 JUNO Awards was nominated for Event of the Year; and the Halifax Convention Centre's Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification earned a Waves of Change Award nomination. At the 2024 MPI Atlantic Awards, our Senior Vice-President Genaya Cameron was honoured with the Barbara Broome Legacy Award for making a lasting impact over her 25-year career.

The 2026 MPI Atlantic Awards Gala takes place on November 3 in Halifax.